The global tourism sector is experiencing a robust revival, with international travel surging to twice the volume in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year, marking a promising return to pre-pandemic levels.
UNWTO’s recent data release paints an optimistic picture for the industry. The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer indicates that international arrivals have bounced back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023. An impressive figure of 235 million tourists embarked on international journeys during these three months, marking a significant leap from the same period in 2022.
Tourism’s resilience has once again been reinforced, with data revisions indicating that 960 million tourists ventured internationally last year, restoring two-thirds (66%) of pre-pandemic numbers.
The regional performances in Q1 2023 showed a discernible recovery pattern. The Middle East outshone all other regions, exceeding 2019 arrival levels by 15%, thus becoming the first region to fully regain pre-pandemic numbers in a single quarter. Europe also showcased a resilient rebound, reaching 90% of pre-pandemic levels, powered primarily by robust intra-regional demand.
Africa was not far behind at 88%, and the Americas clocked about 85% of 2019 levels. The Asia Pacific region showed promise as it escalated its recovery process, achieving 54% of pre-pandemic levels. With major destinations like China reopening, the upward trend in this region is anticipated to gain momentum.
The UNWTO data further dissects recovery by sub-region and destination. Southern Mediterranean Europe and North Africa have successfully regained pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023. Meanwhile, Western Europe, Northern Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean were all within striking distance of those levels.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented on the rejuvenation of the sector, emphasizing tourism’s unique resilience and its potential to bounce back. Still, he highlighted the importance of staying vigilant against challenges like geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and potential repercussions from the cost-of-living crisis.
The numbers tell a compelling story of recovery, with international tourism receipts regaining the USD 1 trillion milestone in 2022, a 50% real growth from 2021. This growth is primarily driven by the rebound in international travel. International visitor expenditure reached 64% of pre-pandemic levels.
Europe saw a fruitful 2022, with nearly USD 550 billion in tourism receipts, an encouraging 87% recovery of pre-pandemic levels. Africa followed with a 75% recovery, the Middle East 70%, and the Americas 68%. Prolonged border closures limited Asia’s recovery to about 28%.
Looking ahead, the promising Q1 2023 results align with UNWTO’s projections, which suggest an 80% to 95% recovery of pre-pandemic levels for international arrivals this year. Despite the promising trajectory, some challenges loom over the recovery process. Economic factors such as high inflation and escalating oil prices could increase transport and accommodation costs, potentially nudging tourists to seek more value for money and opt for locations closer to home. Geopolitical tensions, such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine, add an additional layer of uncertainty to the situation.
Despite these potential hurdles, the UNWTO Confidence Index reflects strong confidence in a thriving peak season (June-August) in the Northern Hemisphere, expected to outshine the performance of 2022.
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